Historic review of the U of A Hospital Lung transplant program

A highly specialized integrated interdisciplinary team and multiple resources are required for successful lung transplantation. The team includes respirologists, surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, dietitians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and all their support staff. The operating rooms, ICU and transplant ward staff specialize in lung transplants. In addition, they have access to gastrointestinal, hematology, pharmacists, and communicable diseases specialists. Moreover, close integration with innovative medical research keeps the team at the cutting edge of newly emerging therapies.

The U of A Hospital wait times are not improving.

The U of A lung transplant program was started in 1986. Since that time they have done close to 800 lung transplants. In 2017 they did 73 double lung transplants…a new record.

At the U of A the number of usable lungs compared to donated lungs is as high as 30 % and has risen gradually. The objective of EVLP is to increase this significantly.

The U of A has the largest catchment area in North America and Europe. EVLP can allow much longer transportation times again increasing the number of usable lungs.

Living U of A lung transplant patients are still alive many years after transplantation….and the number is growing.